Ryokan Advice – Nozawa Onsen

10 comments

1. [http://www.seisenso.com/english.html](http://www.seisenso.com/english.html)

   It’s an old recommendation for me, from my first trip in 2008 or so but it was a great experience, still one of the more memorable stays, mostly because of their fantastic Onsen for washing away the wear and tear of a day snowboarding.

   Not the closest Ryokan to the lifts, but not a long walk by any means. We were a group of four staying in a Tatami room. No shower, but a private toilet and the Onsens were good enough for us.

2. Following too, interested to hear. Closest I’ve been is Yamanochi and that would fit your price bill. In particular the main street with all the onsens. But still a hike to the ski fields from there.

3. I think in Nozawa the more traditional ryokans are more expensive at least some of the ones I found really interesting wound up costing $$$$.

   My experiences

   I have stayed at 4 different locations.

   Staying slopeside is cool but walking back up the hill gets old. I recommend staying near the main intersection/ bus stop

   Shirakaba no Mori near the main intersection. Very nice, on the higher side price wise but if you can find a deal.

   Seisenso is a good value right near everything

   Lodge Nakajima is slopeside at the base of the Nagasaka Gondola. It is nice to stay hillside but it takes some effort to drag your gear up the lodge.

   The Hoshima is further down in the Nakao area. I would consider that a little more traditional in the sense it was mostly Japanese guests.

   Daimon and Yoshimi are both really good soba places and there is an incredible yakitori place this is a little difficult to find located across the street and downstairs from the St Anton cafe.

   Ryokans usually have really good and well priced dinners.

4. Not sure what the AUD exchange is but Fubuki was great all around. The owners are great hosts, dinners are great and location is solid-

   Fubuki
   8820 Shinyu, Nozawaonsen, Shimotakai District, Nagano 389-2502, Japan
   +81 269-85-4162
   https://goo.gl/maps/tEyZgVyRxpCAFQQo9

5. Naraya Ryokan
   Japan, 〒389-2502 Nagano, Shimotakai District, Nozawaonsen, 大字豊郷麻釜8736
   +81 269-85-2155
   https://maps.app.goo.gl/eXTxRJ9FR6j1bNEg7

   I stayed here last year. Was pretty low key and decent value. Was there in summer though on a motorcycle trip from Tokyo. Not the most traditional ryokan I’ve been to but definitely set up to accommodate international travelers. Lovely stone onsen. Decent sized rooms. Nice kaiseki meal. 6/10 that’s a good score btw I’m a tough critic 🤣

6. No matter what ryokan you end up going with, I highly recommend staying at one that will offer a traditional kaiseki meal. I did at the one I stayed at and it was wonderful. Fresh local food cooked in house.

   Many ryokans are priced high because the meal comes with it as standard. Consider it as if you were spending a little extra on that night’s meal. For my stay I believe the meal added $40. Total stay was $190

7. Near the New gondola there might be one.

   Not sure you will get many ryokan in Nozawa near a lift. There is a long moving way up from the town to the resort. Some stairs up to it then easy all the way up.

   We stayed in a wonderful but expensive ryokan near the cooking onsen (sumiyosiya) but it’s outside your price range I expect.

   Lovely town to explore and great skiing for a few days.

8. [deleted]

9. Check this place out, called Obatake https://instagram.com/obatake_nozawaonsen__retreat?igshid=a3rh8w5vavzr

   It’s a little outside the city center but it’s run by the most lovely family who I believe provides a shuttle service, and their daughter Hiromi (who speaks English), is an excellent guide to the village and has a yoga studio at the ryokan if that interests you. Meals are also great with homemade soba noodles and produce from their garden.

10. Thanks all so much! Will keep you posted on what we end up booking 🙂